Regional

8:00 am

Wed April 30, 2014

N.M. Health Department Urges Parents To Vaccinate

The New Mexico Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their children are up to date on vaccines.

In a press release noting that this is National Infant Immunization Week, Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward says parents planning to enroll their babies and young children in summer programs should ensure their children are vaccinated against diseases like whooping cough, measles and chicken pox.

Currently, the health department says New Mexico's child vaccination rates are above the national average and the highest they've ever been at 71 percent. The goal is to reach 90 percent by the year 2020.

The Department of Health provides free immunizations at public health offices throughout the state for children and adults at no charge. Parents are encouraged to bring insurance cards if they have them.

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